Bottom line: apply to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for the Type 47 On-Sale General (restaurant) — or Type 48 for a bar. You'll need a registered business, secured premises, local zoning approval, owner background checks, and public notice. California is a quota state, so a transfer of an existing license is common.
| Issuing body | California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) |
| License type (bar/restaurant) | Type 47 On-Sale General (restaurant) — or Type 48 for a bar |
| Quota state? | Yes |
| State fee | $19,840 original fee for a new Type 47 won via the annual lottery; a person-to-person transfer is a $1,565 ABC fee (eff. Jan 1, 2026) — state fees only, local zoning/CUP separate |
| Typical timeline | 45–90 days for a clean transfer; the lottery path can exceed a year |
A liquor-license consultant / expediter handles the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) application, public notice, background packet, and (in quota states) the transfer paperwork — typically $2,000–$10,000 depending on complexity. Worth it if you're on a build timeline and can't afford a rejected application.
Start at the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) →
Tip for the owner: set AFFILIATE_LIQUOR_PRO_URL to a licensing-consultant lead-gen/affiliate link to monetize this CTA. Until then it points to the official California board.
In California you generally need: a registered business and secured premises, local zoning approval, owner background checks, public notice during the protest period, and an application to the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) for the Type 47 On-Sale General (restaurant) — or Type 48 for a bar. California uses a strict per-county quota for full-liquor licenses; when a county is full, new ones are released only by population growth (priority drawing) or you buy an existing license on the secondary market.
Most states, including California, weigh criminal history case-by-case; certain felonies (especially alcohol-, fraud-, or violence-related) can disqualify or require a waiver. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) makes the final call — disclose and ask them directly.
Usually yes — the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) issues the state license and your city/county typically requires its own permit plus zoning sign-off. Clear the local approval before or alongside the state application.
In California, quota licenses are capped — but venues surrender them every week. Instead of waiting on a new license, you can acquire a surrendered or transfer-pending one. LiquorDesk tracks these live from the CA ABC weekly export, by county.
Regulatory facts on this page are from the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) (California's official alcohol-licensing authority). Verified against the board's published material on 2026-06-22. Fees, quotas and rules change — always confirm the current figures with the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) before you apply. This is informational regulatory content, not legal advice; for a transfer or contested application consult a licensed attorney or licensing consultant.